What Causes Mental Exhaustion?

“I’m so across that it’s like I ran a marathon and carried the weight of the whole world on my shoulders.” Does this sound familiar? Many identify themselves with this. The seemingly unexplained exhaustion is often heavy and not necessarily due to physical exertion; in the background often lurks mental exhaustion. In this article, we look at what causes mental exhaustion.

The close relationship between mind and body is undeniably as amazing as it is obvious. Sometimes there’s nothing more wonderful than coming home after a hard workout; close the door and know that the day’s responsibilities have been completed as well as feel satisfied with their accomplishments. The mind often rests in such fatigue as it is not painful, heavy or exhausting. The body quickly recovers and the feeling is accompanied by inner peace.

But sometimes just going shopping or having lunch with friends consumes a lot of resources. Such situations may in some cases be due to some of the underlying problems. Be that as it may, the situation always requires attention.

Severe exhaustion for no apparent reason

Usually, a person knows, at least for the most part, the reason for his exhaustion. This may be due to overwork or the end of a labor-intensive project. The reason can also be a long trip that required a lot of stopovers. All of these are clear reasons for exhaustion.

Sometimes, however, the feeling generally feels uncomfortable and the cause is obscured. It can be mental exhaustion.

What is mental exhaustion?

Mental exhaustion is not always due to something going wrong. It is not always related to problems, disappointments or everyday adversities. If you’re tired for no apparent reason, it can be due to many different things – including problems you don’t have time to think about or don’t get a respite from.

For example, how many times have you got out of bed in the morning, eaten breakfast, taken the kids to school, went to work, and returned home on autopilot? You do these tasks like a machine, one after another without thinking about them any more. There is basically no time left for reflection or relaxation, and this eventually eats up health.

What causes mental exhaustion?

Mental exhaustion does not occur overnight, but is formed when several different factors accumulate over time:

• Over-commitment. How many times do you agree to do more than you could actually do?
• “Because it is compulsory”. If you think about it, a sense of duty affects your mind tremendously. One big reason for mental exhaustion is precisely the feeling that you have a duty to do something you wouldn’t actually want to do.
• Perfectionism. This goes hand in hand with a sense of duty. You are convinced that you should do everything perfectly, quickly and efficiently. This naturally leads not only to mental exhaustion but also to frustration.

• Lack of rest. This is the most crucial factor. If you can’t relax or sleep, it will lead to exhaustion even before you get out of bed in the morning.

Strategies for dealing with exhaustion

Wayne Dyer used to say it’s best not to complain to others about his own fatigue because it would just pass on his own discouragement to others. Keep in mind that everyone deals with their exhaustion in one way or another.

When you say you’re exhausted and don’t know why, remember one thing: there’s a reason for your exhaustion that needs to be identified before you can make changes. If you do nothing and complain about it, it will only make you feel worse.

Here are some strategies you can apply every day:

• Take breaks throughout the day and make sure you have at least two hours left of your own time. Dedicate some of that time to thinking, relaxing, and doing things you enjoy.

• Learn to prioritize things.
• Remember to take care of yourself because you deserve it. Pamper yourself in a healthy way (healthy here means not shopping all accounts empty). It is important to take care of your mind and body.
• Identify harmful thought patterns and avoid talking to yourself in a demanding or discouraging way. Don’t start with the phrases “I have to,” as it can be detrimental to self-esteem and well-being.

Finally

Meditation, in its purest sense, is a good and effective strategy because it allows you to think, meditate deeply, and meditate. If you do it for at least 20 minutes a day, you’ll notice the benefits in just a few weeks. Keep in mind that it is important to do something about mental exhaustion that impairs your quality of life. Don’t move on to what you can do today!